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en-UShttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsssocportals@mediacolo.comBizarre deep-sea fish living in Gulf of California with #039;virtually no oxygen#039; puzzles biologistsDeep in the dark depths of the Gulf of California — where "virtually no oxygen" exists — live schools of fish that are thriving in an environment marine biologists would otherwise consider deadly for their kind.http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2420185-bizarre-deep-sea-fish-living-gulf-california-039virtually-no
Mon, 21 2019 18:02:20 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2420185-bizarre-deep-sea-fish-living-gulf-california-039virtually-noTrump made an unannounced visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial to honor the civil rights iconPresident Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington DC on Monday just after 11 a.m.
The pair placed a wreath at the foot of the statue during their brief visit, which only lasted a couple of minutes.
Trump reportedly did not answer reporter questions about the government shutdown during the visit.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington DC on Monday in recognition of the holiday honoring the civil rights leader.
Trump and Pence placed a wreath at the memorial during their brief visit, which occurred just after 11 a.m.
"It's a great day. A beautiful day. Thank you for being here. Appreciate it," Trump told reporters at the memorial, according to CNN.
He and Pence stood by the statue for only a minute or two, Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason said on Twitter.
The visit was unexpected because as of Sunday night the White House reported that Trump's public schedule for MLK Day was empty.
Last year, Trump spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day golfing at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Read more: 2020 Democrats rejected Trump's latest 'compromise' to end the shutdown — here's what they had to say
Earlier on Monday Trump posted a statement about Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Twitter.
"Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth, we are all created equal by God," he said, linking to a longer statement on the White House's website.
The MLK Jr. Memorial in Washington is overseen by the National Park Service, which has been left unfunded during the 31-day government shutdown.
Trump did not respond to questions about the shutdown during the short visit to the memorial, according to the Associated Press.
Read more:
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The White House has reportedly picked Vietnam for the next Trump-Kim summit
Giuliani said it would be 'perfectly normal' if Trump spoke to Michael Cohen before his testimony
The complete history of the US State of the Union address
Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2420011-trump-made-unannounced-visit-martin-luther-king-jr-memorial
Mon, 21 2019 17:15:30 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2420011-trump-made-unannounced-visit-martin-luther-king-jr-memorialWatch: Champions Tour Player Makes Luckiest Eagle Imaginable“Oh s---!”http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419928-watch-champions-tour-player-makes-luckiest-eagle-imaginable
Mon, 21 2019 16:21:51 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419928-watch-champions-tour-player-makes-luckiest-eagle-imaginableThe Historic Results of President Donald J. Trump#039;s First Two Years in OfficeThe Historic Results of President Donald J. Trump's First Two Years in Office
Issued on: January 20, 2019
"Together, we are building a safe, strong, and proud America."
-Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
IGNITING A HISTORIC ECONOMIC BOOM: President Trump's pro-growth policies are unleashing economic growth and providing opportunities to workers across the country.
Due to President Trump's pro-growth policies, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth exceeded 3 percent over the last four quarters.
Real GDP grew at annual rates of 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2018 and 4.2 percent in the second quarter.
More than 5 million jobs have been created since President Trump's election and the unemployment rate remains below 4 percent.
This is the eighth time this year that the unemployment rate has been below 4 percent.
Prior to this year, the unemployment rate had fallen below 4 percent only five times since 1970.
The unemployment rate for African Americans in May fell to 5.9 percent, which is the lowest rate on record.
Asian and Hispanic-American unemployment rates have reached record lows this year.
Initial weekly jobless claims have hit a nearly 50-year low under President Trump.
Under President Trump, job openings outnumber the unemployed for the first time on record.
Recently, more than two-thirds of Americans rated "now" as a good time to find a quality job, tying a record high in a poll by Gallup.
Americans are seeing more money in their pockets thanks to the booming economy.
In recent months, workers have seen their largest nominal year over year wage growth in nearly a decade.
In 2017, real median household income rose to a post-recession high.
President Trump's policies are helping to lift Americans out of poverty.
African-American and Hispanic-American poverty rates reached record lows of 21.2 percent and 18.3 percent, respectively, in 2017.
Since the election, 4.6 million Americans have been lifted off of food stamps.
Consumer confidence has soared under President Trump, recently reaching an 18-year high.
President Trump is delivering on his promise to bring back American manufacturing.
The National Association of Manufacturers' Outlook Index had the highest annual average in its history over the past year.
Manufacturing added 284,000 jobs in 2018, the most added in a year since 1997
Small Business optimism jumped to a record high under President Trump, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
The NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index broke a 35-year record in August.
President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, ushering in the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history.
These tax cuts are delivering real results for American families and workers.
More than 6 million workers received tax cut bonuses and benefits.
More than 100 utility companies have announced lower rates.
President Trump is ensuring American workers receive the training and education they need to compete in today's economy.
President Trump signed an executive order establishing the National Council for the American worker.
More than 185 companies and associations have signed our "Pledge to America's Workers," promising more than 6.4 million new training and career opportunities.
The President signed legislation that reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, making more than $1 billion available for career education programs.
President Trump has prioritized the economic empowerment of women.
The women's unemployment rate recently reached its lowest rate in 65 years.
The Small Business Administration lent approximately $500 million more in capital to women-owned businesses in 2017 compared to 2016.
The Administration helped launch the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which could leverage more than $1 billion to support women entrepreneurs.
ROLLING BACK RED TAPE: President Trump is rolling back costly regulations that have burdened hardworking Americans and stifled innovation.
President Trump has followed through on and exceeded his promise to roll back two regulations for every new one created.
President Trump's Administration surpassed the 2:1 ratio in 2018, eliminating 12 regulations for every new one in 2018.
In 2017, the Trump Administration eliminated 22 regulations for every new one.
Since taking office, President Trump's deregulation efforts have achieved $33 billion in regulatory savings.
In 2018, these efforts alone delivered $23 billion in benefits to American families and business owners.
President Trump has signed 16 Congressional Review Act resolutions into law, eliminating burdensome Obama-era rules and regulations.
President Trump announced U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, which would have harmed America's economy and cost American workers millions of jobs.
President Trump signed an executive order to streamline the permitting process for infrastructure projects with a goal of cutting approval time from up to 10 years to an average of 2 years.
President Trump signed legislation to roll back burdensome Dodd-Frank regulations that harmed community banks.
NEGOTIATING BETTER DEALS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: President Trump is negotiating fair and balanced trade deals that protect American industries and workers.
President Trump negotiated a new trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to replace the disastrous and outdated North American Free Trade Agreement.
Once enacted by Congress, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will better serve the interests of American workers and businesses.
USMCA will incentivize billions of dollars in auto and auto parts production in the United States and create a freer and fairer market for American agriculture.
USMCA also includes the strongest-ever provisions on labor, environmental, digital, and intellectual property protections to reflect the realities of the 21st century economy.
The President renegotiated the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement to preserve and grow jobs in the American auto industry and increase American exports.
The United States and Japan are set to begin negotiations on a United States-Japan Trade Agreement.
President Trump is establishing a new trade relationship with the European Union (EU), working toward the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to transatlantic trade.
President Trump has established a Trade and Investment Working Group to lay the groundwork for post-Brexit trade with the United Kingdom (UK) and has notified Congress of his intent to negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK.
This year, President Trump filed a withdrawal notification with the Universal Postal Union, launching a one-year negotiation to secure fair international postal rates for American mailers.
President Trump has expanded market access for American agricultural producers.
Argentina has opened to American pork and beef, Brazil to American beef, Japan to lamb and Idaho chipping potatoes, South Korea to American poultry, and more.
The Administration authorized $12 billion to aid farmers affected by unfair retaliatory tariffs.
The Trump Administration has begun the process to expand the sale of E15, or gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, to year round.
Under President Trump, the United States will no longer accept bad trade deals and unfair trade practices that harm American workers and industries.
One of the President's first actions after taking office was withdrawing the United States from the terrible Trans-Pacific Partnership, which incentivized outsourcing.
In 2017, the Administration oversaw 82 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
President Trump is holding China accountable for its unfair trade practices, such as the theft of intellectual property, by imposing tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods.
Following President Trump's successful meeting with President Xi in Buenos Aires, both agreed to conduct negotiations over 90 days to address the United States concerns.
American steel and aluminum jobs are coming back following President Trump's tariffs to protect domestic industries that are vital to national security.
President Trump imposed tariffs to protect American-made washing machines and solar products that were hurt by import surges.
UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY: President Trump is rolling back costly and burdensome regulations to unleash America's incredible energy resources.
After years of stifling regulation under the last Administration, President Trump is unleashing America's energy potential.
America is the largest crude oil producer in the world and production has hit a record high.
President Trump's policies are helping to boost American energy exports.
The Administration has streamlined Liquefied Natural Gas terminal permitting.
In 2017, the United States became a net natural gas exporter for the first time in 60 years.
American coal exports increased by more than 60 percent in 2017.
President Trump is expanding access to our country's abundant natural resources.
The President signed legislation to open up energy exploration in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
In July 2018, the Department of the Interior announced it would hold the largest oil and gas lease sale in history.
In 2017, the Administration approved construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and the cross border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
The Administration issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will export American petroleum products to Mexico.
The President has ended the war on coal, cutting Obama-era regulations such as the "Stream Protection Rule" which was estimated to cost industries $81 million a year.
President Trump is replacing the Clean Power Plan, a flawed Obama-era regulation that the Supreme Court ordered halted.
President Trump rescinded the hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the oil and gas industry $32 million per year.
The Trump Administration curbed the burdensome Obama-era rule on methane, saving American energy developers hundreds of millions of dollars in regulatory costs.
EXPANDING OPTIONS FOR QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE: President Trump is expanding access to affordable healthcare choices and taking action to lower drug prices.
President Trump's Administration is working to provide Americans with affordable alternatives to Obamacare.
The Administration expanded short-term, limited duration health insurance plans that are expected to be nearly 50 percent cheaper than unsubsidized Obamacare plans.
President Trump has expanded association health plans, allowing more employers to join together across State lines and affordably offer coverage to their employees.
The Administration proposed a reform to Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) regulations that will give consumers more freedom to purchase benefits that fit their needs.
Roughly 800,000 employers are expected to provide HRAs for more than 10 million employees once the rule finalized.
Americans have more healthcare freedom thanks to the President signing legislation that ended Obamacare's individual mandate penalty.
While healthcare premiums had been steadily increasing as a result of Obamacare, the average benchmark exchange premium will decline for the first time in 2019 thanks to President Trump's policies.
Next year, Americans will benefit from more insurer participation on the exchanges.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefit options than ever before, and average premiums in 2019 will be 6 percent lower than in 2018.
President Trump launched an unprecedented campaign to drive down drug prices, leading more than a dozen drug manufactures to enact price freezes, reductions, or rollbacks.
In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a record number of generic drugs, breaking the previous record set by the Administration in 2017.
The FDA's Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 generic drug approvals are expected to bring nearly $9 billion in savings in 2017 alone.
President Trump signed legislation eliminating contractual gag clauses that stopped pharmacists from informing patients about lower drug prices.
The President put forth an initiative to stop global freeloading that drives up prices for American patients.
The Administration provided Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans with new negotiating tools to drive down drug costs for American patients.
The Administration implemented reforms to the amount Medicare pays hospitals for drugs that are purchased under the 340B program, saving seniors $320 million in 2018.
President Trump signed "Right to Try" legislation to expand access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients.
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE CRISIS NEXT DOOR: President Trump mobilized his entire Administration to combat the opioid crisis that has devastated communities across the country.
President Trump launched an Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to confront the driving forces behind this crisis.
The President signed the landmark SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the largest and most comprehensive legislative package addressing a single drug crisis in history.
The President helped secure a record $6 billion in funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
The Administration provided more than $2 billion in grants in 2018 to help States, territories, tribes, and local communities prevent and treat opioid abuse.
The Administration pursued scientific solutions to prevent and treat addiction through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.
The President launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction and youth opioid usage.
Last year, President Trump created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, which recommends ways to tackle the opioid crisis.
The Administration declared the opioid crisis a nationwide Public Health Emergency in 2017.
President Trump is working to cut off the flow of deadly opioids into our country and to disrupt the networks that distribute them to our communities.
The Administration secured first-ever indictments against Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a surge to target fentanyl and heroin dealers in the districts with the most severe overdose death rates.
The DOJ formed a Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement team and shut down the biggest Darknet distributor of drugs.
Last year, the DOJ announced the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history, arresting more than 120 defendants with opioid-related crimes.
The President launched a Safer Prescribing Plan that seeks to cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years.
The Administration has led four National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, collecting a record-breaking 1,837 tons of expired and unneeded prescription drugs.
STANDING UP FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AND PROTECTING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: The President is committed to defending the right to life and religious liberty.
Shortly after taking office, President Trump reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy.
President Trump defunded a United Nations (UN) agency for colluding with China's brutal program of forced abortion and sterilization.
The Administration withdrew guidance that constrained State's ability to exclude family-planning providers that provide abortion services from the Medicaid program.
The Trump Administration proposed new regulations to ensure Title X family planning funding does not go to projects that perform, support, or refer patients for abortion.
The Trump Administration issued regulations establishing new or expanded exemptions from the Obamacare contraceptive mandate based on religious beliefs or moral convictions.
In 2017, the President issued an executive order to promote free speech and religious liberty.
KEEPING AMERICAN COMMUNITIES SAFE: President Trump has made clear that his first responsibility is to protect the safety and security of Americans.
Federal Bureau of Investigation data shows violent crime decreased under President Trump's watch in 2017, following two consecutive years of increases.
United States Attorneys indicted the most violent criminals on record last year.
Last year, the DOJ announced nearly $100 million in grant funding to hire hundreds of additional law enforcement officers.
President Trump is cracking down on the vile MS-13 gang that has brought violence to communities across the country.
In 2017, the DOJ worked with international partners to arrest and charge approximately 4,000 MS-13 members.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations arrested nearly 800 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.
President Trump signed an executive order to restore State and local law enforcement's access to surplus equipment that can be used to help keep our communities safe.
President Trump enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The DOJ announced the creation of the National Public Safety Partnership in 2017, launching a cooperative initiative with cities to reduce violent crime.
President Trump signed legislation to improve the Federal firearm background check system and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals.
President Trump signed the First Step Act, which includes bipartisan reforms to make our Federal justice system fairer and our communities safer.
The First Step Act will help prepare inmates to successfully rejoin society, reducing recidivism and improving community safety.
This legislation includes commonsense sentencing reforms that will make our Federal justice system fairer while keeping violent criminals and sex offenders off our streets.
ENFORCING OUR LAWS AND SECURING OUR BORDERS: From the first day of his Administration, President Trump has worked to uphold the rule of law and secure our borders.
President Trump released an immigration framework that would fix our broken immigration system through merit-based reform and provide the resources needed to secure our border.
This includes closing the legal loopholes that enable illegal immigration, ending chain migration, and eliminating the visa lottery.
President Trump secured funding to begin building the wall and construction has already begun in areas along the southern border.
President Trump deployed the military to assist in securing the southern border.
President Trump and his Administration took action to require aliens seeking asylum to go to a port of entry to make their claim.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 17,256 criminals and 1,019 gang members in FY 2018.
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 158,581 aliens in FY 2018, an 11 percent increase from FY 2017.
90 percent of those arrested had criminal convictions, pending charges, or had been issued final orders of removal.
ICE ERO increased removals by 13 percent in FY 2018 to 256,086, the majority of whom were convicted criminals.
Removals of convicted criminal aliens increased by 14 percent from FY 2017.
Nearly 6,000 known or suspected gang members were removed in FY 2018, a 9 percent increase from FY 2017.
The Department of Justice prosecuted a record number of criminal immigration offenses in FY 2018, and increased the number of prosecutions for illegal entry by 84 percent over FY 2017.
Immigration courts are now completing more cases than at any point since 2011
President Trump kept his promise by launching the office of Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) within the Department of Homeland Security.
The Administration has more than doubled the number of jurisdictions participating in the 287(g) program, which enables State and local law enforcement to aid immigration enforcement.
President Trump has made our country safer by ordering the enhanced vetting of individuals entering from countries that do not meet our security standards.
These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court ruling.
REBUILDING AMERICA'S MILITARY FORCE: President Trump is rebuilding our military and defending America's interests across the world.
President Trump ended the devastating defense cuts of the past Administration and has secured historic investments to rebuild our military.
President Trump signed legislation providing $700 billion for defense in FY 2018 and $716 billion in FY 2019.
President Trump is supporting America's men and women in uniform, securing the largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.
The President issued a new National Security Strategy to keep America safe from all threats.
The Administration has also released new strategies specific to cybersecurity, biodefense, counterterrorism, and weapons of mass destruction terrorism.
President Trump directed the first whole-of-government assessment of United States manufacturing and defense supply chains since the Eisenhower Administration.
President Trump initiated the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, improving United States deterrence policy and existing capabilities to counter nuclear threats.
President Trump empowered our military commanders with broad authority in order to take the fight to ISIS, and the results are clear.
ISIS has lost nearly all of its territory, more than half of which has been liberated since President Trump took office.
All of ISIS' territory in Iraq was successfully liberated.
ISIS' self-proclaimed capital city Raqqah has been recaptured.
ISIS' territorial caliphate has been defeated and President Trump has announced that he is bringing America's troops in Syria home.
President Trump announced a new Iran strategy to confront all of Iran's malign activities and withdrew from the horrible, one-sided Iran nuclear deal.
All sanctions that had been lifted or waived under the Iran deal have been reimposed.
The Administration has sanctioned more than 160 individuals tied to the regime's support of terrorism, ballistic missile program, human rights abuses, and more.
President Trump took decisive military action to respond to the barbaric use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.
President Trump directed strikes in response to the regime's chemical weapons attacks in April 2017 and April 2018.
The Trump Administration has also rolled out sanctions targeting those tied to Syria's chemical weapons program.
President Trump is strengthening America's cyber defense and directed the elevation of the United States Cyber Command into a major warfighting command.
The President announced that the Department of Defense will work to create a Space Force to serve as an independent branch of the United States military.
RESTORING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ABROAD: President Trump is restoring American leadership on the world stage and advancing an America first agenda.
President Trump held an historic summit with Chairman Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula.
Since the summit, the leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both countries have met.
Because of the President's actions, North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests.
The remains of POW/MIA service members from the Korean War are being returned to the United States.
Prior to the summit, President Trump's leadership helped secure the passage of historic UN sanctions on North Korea.
President Trump followed through on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the American embassy there.
President Trump withdrew the United States from the UN Human Rights Council due to its bias against Israel.
The Administration made clear that it does not accept the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction over Americans and will continue to protect America's sovereignty.
President Trump has successfully advocated for cutting waste at the UN.
Changes made to the organization's structure allowed the UN to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from their budget, while making the organization more efficient.
The President's leadership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has encouraged members to increase their defense spending and realign the Alliance's priorities.
In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending among NATO allies.
President Trump convinced the Alliance to strengthen counterterrorism activities, and NATO formally joined the coalition to defeat ISIS.
President Trump's Administration is working to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific through investments and partnerships.
President Trump has imposed tough sanctions on the corrupt regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
President Trump has taken tough action to combat Russia's malign activities, including Russia's efforts to undermine United States elections.
The Administration has imposed sanctions on more than 200 individuals and entities related to Russia's destabilizing activities.
The Trump Administration has enhanced support for Ukraine's defense by stepping up sales of weapons to its military.
The Trump Administration has secured the release of numerous American citizens held abroad, including Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey, Josh Holt from Venezuela, and more.
President Trump attended G20 summits in Argentina and Germany, where he promoted American First policies and encouraged closer cooperation.
In 2017, President Trump conducted tours through Asia to promote America's interests.
HONORING AMERICA'S COMMITMENT TO OUR VETERANS: President Trump is honoring America's commitment to our veterans by ensuring they receive the quality care they have earned.
President Trump secured a record $73.1 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide quality medical care for our veterans.
This funding included $8.6 billion for mental health services, $400 million for opioid abuse prevention, $206 million for suicide prevention, and more.
The President signed the VA MISSION Act, revolutionizing that VA healthcare system and reforming numerous services for our veterans.
This legislation will consolidate and reform existing programs to give eligible veterans better access to healthcare providers in their communities.
Thanks to this legislation, eligible veterans will have access to walk-in community clinics that offer immediate, local care.
President Trump and his Administration have expanded access to telehealth services for veterans, including through the "Anywhere to Anywhere" VA health care initiative.
President Trump issued an executive order requiring the Administration to improve access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources for veterans.
President Trump signed the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, making it easier to fire failing employees and protect whistleblowers.
Under President Trump, the VA has removed, demoted, or suspended more than 4,300 employees for poor performance.
President Trump signed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, streamlining the process used by veterans when appealing benefits claims.
President Trump fulfilled his promise to create a new White House VA Hotline to provide veterans with 24/7 support.
The VA is providing veterans with online access to wait time and quality of care data.
The President signed the Forever GI Bill, providing veterans, service members, and their families with enhanced education benefits.
Last year, programs at the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development helped more than 51,000 veterans find permanent housing and access supportive services.
TRANSFORMING GOVERNMENT: President Trump has followed through on his pledge to transform the Federal Government and increase accountability and transparency.
President Trump's Administration submitted a plan to reorganize the executive branch in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
In a historic show of transparency and accountability, the Trump Administration completed the Department of Defense's first ever audit.
The President implemented a five-year ban on lobbying for White House employees and a lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign countries.
Each quarter since taking office, President Trump has donated his salary, fulfilling a promise he made to the American people.
President Trump is reshaping our Federal judiciary, appointing judges who will follow the Constitution as written.
The President has appointed Circuit Court judges at a record pace.
President Trump has appointed two Supreme Court justices, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419873-historic-results-president-donald-j-trump039s-first-two-year
Mon, 21 2019 15:27:18 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419873-historic-results-president-donald-j-trump039s-first-two-yearThe 25 best golf courses in America in 2019, rankedThis month, a report by Wealth-X intelligence confirmed golf as the No. 1 preferred sport for multi-millionaires worldwide.
Golf Digest released their biennial ranking of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses, with Pine Valley Golf Club in NJ ranked first.
The top 25 courses included courses as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida.
Golf Digest recently released its 2019-2020 ranking of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Established in 1966, the biennial ranking by the publication is considered the "gold standard" in the sport's community.
In Wealth-X's inaugural High Net Worth Handbook, golf was ranked as the No. 1 preferred sport amongst individuals with a net worth of $1 million to $30 million.
Many of the top ranking courses are elite private clubs, where non-members can only play if invited by a current member. Other courses are public but come with high green fees as a result of their prestige. Courses in Pebble Beach, California and Augusta, Georgia are often utilized for annual professional golf tournaments such as The Masters.
Read more: The top 15 sports wealthy people around the world love, ranked
To score each prestigious course, the Golf Digest panel totals its averages in seven categories, including shot value, aesthetics, and ambience. In addition, 60 evaluations over the past 10 years are required for a course to even be considered.
Golf Digest defines shot value as the variety of risks and rewards when playing each hole. Aesthetics assess the course's scenic value, while ambience takes into account the overall feel and atmosphere.
Below are the top 25 of the 100 courses provided by Golf Digest, in descending order with scores rounded to the nearest tenth.SEE ALSO: These eerie photos of deserted golf courses reveal a new normal in America
SEE ALSO: 32 incredible courses every golfer should play in their lifetime
25. Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers, North Carolina
Instagram Embed: //instagram.com/p/BpFb_ypFp25/embed Width: 540px
Shot values: 7.9
Aesthetics: 8.3
Ambiance: 8.2
Total score: 64.5
24. The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Shot values: 8.0
Aesthetics: 8.2
Ambiance: 8.1
Total score: 64.5
23. Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California
Instagram Embed: //instagram.com/p/BaZVnEqBo6R/embed Width: 540px
Shot values: 8.1
Aesthetics: 7.8
Ambiance: 8.3
Total score: 64.8
See the rest of the story at Business Insiderhttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419837-25-best-golf-courses-america-2019-ranked
Mon, 21 2019 16:00:00 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419837-25-best-golf-courses-america-2019-rankedThe rise and fall of Donald Trump#039;s $365 million airlineDonald Trump owned an airline for a short time in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1989, Trump raised $365 million to purchase the Eastern Shuttle, which provided business travelers with quick flights between New York, Boston, and Washington.
Within 18 months, the airline lost over $125 million, and by 1992, Trump decided it was time to walk away.
Trump Shuttle created over 1,000 jobs, many of which were filled by Eastern Airlines employees who were out of work due to a labor strike. We talked to three former employees of Trump Shuttle.
Reporter: You look great. Donald Trump: Everybody have it? Narrator: Things used to be a lot different for Donald Trump.
Reporter: Mr. Trump, who's your lovely date tonight? This is Melissa.
Woman: Hi. Narrator: In the 1980s, Donald Trump was a star.
Man: His name sells. And when you think business, you think Trump. Man: My son, he's 22 years old, and Mr. Trump is his hero. Man: We're from Oregon, and Donald Trump is popular out there. Woman: He's my idol. I really respect him, and I think he's amazing. Everything he does seems to turn into gold. Narrator: By 1988, Trump was a major name in real estate. The New York Times called him one of the richest men in the world, with an estimated net worth of $3 billion. And he bought the luxurious Plaza Hotel for $390 million. For Donald Trump, the next logical step was buying an airline.
TV Commercial: Yo, Joe!
Henry Harteveldt: The Trump Organization was a holding company with various assets. Those assets included hotels, apartment buildings, and other real estate assets. Narrator: That's Henry Harteveldt. Donald Trump hired him as the marketing director for Trump Shuttle.Harteveldt: Mr. Trump thought that having an airline would complement his other travel-related holdings, and that's why he was interested in it.
TV Commercial: You can fly clear across the USA. Narrator: In the 1980s, air travel was a completely different ball game, especially if you were flying for business.
TV Commercial: The Eastern Air Shuttle, a guaranteed seat without a reservation. Narrator: Shuttle services from airlines like Pan Am and Eastern offered flights between New York, Boston, and Washington that took off every hour. In 1988, a workers' strike at Eastern drove the airline to a halt.
Harteveldt: There was an open auction for the shuttle. Several different airlines submitted bids. At the end, it became the Trump Organization and America West, and the Trump Organization prevailed. Narrator: Trump secured $365 million from a consortium of banks to make a bid for the Eastern Shuttle. After a meeting with airline owner Frank Lorenzo at Trump's Plaza Hotel, the deal was done, and Trump Shuttle was born.
Trump: How you doing? Have a good flight. Narrator: Trump Shuttle's fleet consisted of 21 Boeing 727s. Trump spent $1 million to refurbish each plane.
Trump: We were the first plane out this morning. We were the most successful flight this morning. We had more people than anybody else, and I think we had better service than anybody else. Narrator: Trump Shuttle offered quick flights between three east coast destinations: Logan Airport in Boston, LaGuardia in New York, and Reagan in D.C.
David Manley: The first week or so was really disorganized because, you know, it was a brand new airline. And the pilots just got it all figured out. It was 64 flights a day between three cities, and, you know, it ran like clockwork. Narrator: Trump's purchase of the Eastern Shuttle created over 1,000 new jobs, many of which were filled by Eastern employees out of work due to the strike. Employees like Rosemary Durant, a Boston-based flight attendant who got a job with Trump Shuttle.
Rosemary Durant: I was a flight attendant with Trump Shuttle from the beginning to the end. I began my career with Eastern Airlines. Towards the end of Eastern Airlines we had the opportunity to bid off to work for the Trump Shuttle. It was strictly a lottery system. It was an opportunity to continue flying, continue getting a paycheck. I had a place to go. I had a job that I loved. I got to continue working. He saved us.
Trump: We're gonna really be a good competitor, and I think it's gonna be a lot of fun. Harteveldt: So the primary competitor that we flew against was Pan Am, Pan Am Shuttle, and a very, very fine competitor to have, because Pan Am forced us to bring our A game to the shuttle market. Narrator: In true Trump fashion, he soon went after his competition.
Trump: I love competing against Pan Am. If you've got to compete, I mean, if you've got to compete, Pan Am is the one you want to compete against. Narrator: Trump didn't just troll Pan Am at press conferences. He also poached their talent, hiring former Pan Am Shuttle president Bruce Nobles, to run Trump Shuttle.
Trump: Safety, everyone says, "Oh, don't ever mention safety." I want to mention safety. To me, it's very important. The safety is number one priority.
Harteveldt: There is an unwritten rule in the airline business: you never attack another carrier's maintenance and safety. Mr. Trump attacked Pan Am's maintenance, and that's just something you don't do. Narrator: Trump suggested that Pan Am's financial struggles might jeopardize the airline's safety, and his remarks soon came back to bite him.
David Letterman: And this represents one of the fleet of your new shuttle service from here to where? Watch this, Don. Whoa, my God, whoa! Narrator: In August of 1989 ... a Trump Shuttle flight made an emergency landing in Boston when the plane's front landing gear malfunctioned. No one onboard was hurt, but Trump Shuttle's trouble was just beginning.Reporter: Smoke rising from the barracks where the Royal Guard still hold out. Narrator: The invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the subsequent Gulf War sent oil prices skyrocketing, and the United States was on the brink of a recession.Harteveldt: That affected all airlines, not just the Trump Shuttle. People just were not flying. As far as the Trump Shuttle became concerned, the bankers said, "Hey, look, "this is not financially sustainable." It became clear that the Trump Shuttle would not grow as an airline. Narrator: Trump fired 100 employees. Just 18 months after the Trump Shuttle launch, the airline had already lost $128 million. In 1992, Donald Trump decided it was time to bail. Trump Shuttle's majority stakeholder, Citigroup, started negotiating a sale with US Air, who still saw value in the product. Donald Trump claimed he didn't lose money on the shuttle. He told the Boston Globe, "I'm smart. I got out at a good time."
Harteveldt: It seems like he kind of just washed his hands of it, said the airline business is very tough, and moved on to whatever was next. Narrator: As for Trump Shuttle employees, many of them kept their jobs and transitioned to becoming employees of the newly-named US Air Shuttle.
David Manley: It really wasn't a failure. I think it was pretty successful. I mean, Trump saved our careers, I mean, absolutely. They really took care of their employees. My wife, who had breast cancer, the CEO of the company, he said, "Hey, any bills that aren't covered, just leave it on my desk." I left some bills on those desks. It was like, I don't know, a $30,000 pharmacy bill. You know, that's how I was treated, and so I'm sure that came down from Trump. I don't have anything bad to say.Today, the US Air Shuttle is known as the American Airlines Shuttle. It serves New York, Boston, Washington, and Chicago.Join the conversation about this story »http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419602-rise-and-fall-donald-trump039s-365-million-airline
Mon, 21 2019 14:00:00 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419602-rise-and-fall-donald-trump039s-365-million-airlineThe growing crisis in VenezuelaThree million people have fled imploding Venezuela. How did it get this bad? Here's everything you need to know.
Why the exodus?Venezuela's economy and social order are collapsing, leaving 75 percent of the population desperately poor and without sufficient food. The physical currency, the bolivar, is all but worthless, while the petro — the new digital currency that socialist President Nicolás Maduro introduced last year, tied to the price of oil — is largely fictitious. The IMF predicts that the country's inflation could reach 10 million percent this year. Not that there's much to buy: Store shelves stand empty, and soldiers guard warehouses against looters. Most Venezuelans are now protein-deprived, and they joke grimly about the "Maduro diet" that has left adults thin and children malnourished. Hospitals lack medicines and basic supplies, and surgical patients are told to bring their own cleaning products and bandages. The murder rate has soared to 15 times the global average, and crime is rampant. "They rob you in the street, on the beach, in the market, at the hospital," said teacher Yamileth Marcano. "It's terrible to live like this."
What caused the collapse?The radical socialist regime set up by Hugo Chávez worked fine for a few years — until it ruined the country. First elected in 1998, Chávez redistributed the country's land and massive oil wealth to benefit the poor, paying for his programs by nationalizing the oil ­industry — which now accounts for 98 percent of export ­earnings — and the banks. But his price controls choked the country's businesses, and by the time Chávez died in 2013, inflation had soared to nearly 50 percent. Then global oil prices fell dramatically, leaving his successor, Maduro, with a recession that became a crisis. Without the flood of foreign oil dollars flowing in that could be used to buy products, imports dried up and shelves emptied of basic necessities. Meanwhile, the country became a narco-state, with many top generals and ­politicians — including former Vice President Tareck El ­Aissami — indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and money laundering. Rather than addressing these problems pragmatically, the authoritarian Maduro has devoted his energies to suppressing dissent and preventing a coup.
How has he survived?Through the raw exercise of power. The opposition won the 2015 parliamentary election and now dominates the National Assembly. But Maduro rammed through changes that eviscerated the assembly's power; he then created a new Constituent Assembly, packed with his supporters, to rewrite the constitution. Under the guise of an anti-corruption sweep, he fired the top Chávez loyalists who might have challenged him, such as former state oil chief Rafael Ramírez, and he jailed charismatic opposition leaders such as Leopoldo López. When the military began grumbling, Maduro purged it brutally. Seven generals, who collectively controlled 60 percent of the troops, were arrested last March on conspiracy charges. "Not only are intelligence agents detaining and torturing members of the military," said José Miguel Vivanco of Human Rights Watch, "in some cases they are also going after their families or other civilians."
Why haven't the people risen up?Protests began in earnest in 2014, a year after Maduro took office, and they have flared up every year since. But the regime has violently crushed these demonstrations. Riot police and armed pro-government gangs known as colectivos routinely bludgeon, tear-gas, and even shoot demonstrators. Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested. Last year, there was much less organized resistance, partly because opposition leaders are exiled or jailed, and partly because Venezuelans are mostly focused on getting food and surviving — or getting out. Since Maduro took office, nearly three million people have emigrated — some 7 percent of the population. And the exodus is continuing. "Considering the magnitude of Venezuela's crisis," says Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, "there may be up to 10 million Venezuelans who will have to abandon that country."
Where have they gone?More than one million are in neighboring Colombia, another half-million are in Peru, and most of the rest have ended up in Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. At first, Colombia reacted to the Venezuelan influx with generosity, offering the migrants work permits and health care. But with some 5,000 people a day leaving Venezuela, border towns simply can't cope. "We are experiencing the most outrageous migratory and humanitarian crisis in the region's recent history," Colombian President Iván Duque said at the U.N. last year.
Will other nations step in?After Maduro won a new six-year term last year in a rigged election, 12 Latin American nations, including Colombia and Brazil, said they would not recognize the Maduro administration and have pledged to isolate him. But a military invasion is unlikely. Venezuela still has the backing of socialist ally Cuba, while China has given it loans and Russia has offered military aid. Change will have to come from within. The opposition-controlled National Assembly picked a new leader this year, Juan Guaidó, and he vows a new fight. "We have plans," Guaidó said, "to call the people to the streets."
Still importing Venezuelan oilThe U.S. and Venezuela have deep economic and energy ties, but relations soured in 2015, when the Obama administration declared Maduro's authoritarianism a threat to U.S. national security and hit key Venezuelans with sanctions. The Trump administration went further, freezing the U.S. assets of Maduro and his top officials and their companies, as well as sanctioning Venezuela's gold exports, its cryptocurrency, and its largest media company, Globovision. Maduro has found it convenient to blame American sanctions for his country's woes, saying the U.S. is waging "economic war" against him. But even though tensions are high, the Trump administration has declined to impose sanctions on Venezuelan oil. Venezuela remains one of the U.S.'s top five suppliers of foreign oil, and refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast depend heavily on crude from the South American nation. More importantly, sanctioning Venezuela's only remaining source of money would almost certainly cause the country to collapse. "If you break it, you buy it," said George David Banks, a former international energy adviser to Trump. "The White House doesn't want to own this crisis."http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419333-growing-crisis-venezuela
Mon, 21 2019 10:40:02 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2419333-growing-crisis-venezuelaGolf: Alvaro Ortiz qualifies for Masters; Janewattananond wins in SingaporeAlvaro Ortiz of Mexico finally earned his trip to the Masters by delivering clutch moments on the back nine Sunday to close with a 6-under 66 and win the Latin American Amateur Championship in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Ortiz, runner-up the last two years, was tied with Luis Gagne of Costa...http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2418438-golf-alvaro-ortiz-qualifies-masters-janewattananond-wins-sin
Sun, 20 2019 21:00:00 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2418438-golf-alvaro-ortiz-qualifies-masters-janewattananond-wins-sin10 ways to make your binge-watch as comfortable as possibleIn Binged, Mashable breaks down why we binge-watch, how we binge-watch, and what it does to us. Because binge-watching is the new normal.
* * *
Binge-watching is basically an endurance sport, so you need to be sure you#39;re prepared. After all, if you#39;re going to watch You until your eyes fall out (recommended), why not make the experience as pleasant as possible?
That means paying close attention to the conditions under which you watch: the couch, the temperature, the vibe, and (most importantly) the snacks.
Some hot tips:
## 1\. Assemble your snacks before the binge-watch begins
To truly maximize your experience, I recommend selecting one salty snack, one sweet snack, and one wild-card snack. Some suggestions from my colleagues, whose tastes range from great to truly horrifying:
* Takis
* Sno-Caps in popcorn
* Uncrustables
* Plain Lay#39;s chips and Greek yogurt
* Chocolate-covered pretzels
* Trader Joe#39;s olive oil popcorn
* Literally a ham-and-cheese sandwich dipped in orange juice (cursed)
* Celery and peanut butter
* Peanut butter straight from the jar
Note: you can always sub in pizza for any category (or all three).
## 2\. Keep no less than three beverages in front of you at all times
One of the beverages should be water. For the other two, I like to choose a large, gulp-able beverage -- like Gatorade or, if I am feeling brave, seltzer -- as well as a fancy, small beverage, like a blood orange San Pellegrino or one of those high-end lemonades with cursive lettering on the bottle.
SEE ALSO: Watching your favorite TV show a million times isn#39;t compulsive. It#39;s a comfort binge.
## 3\. Get up every hour to stretch
You don#39;t have to do a full yoga class, but it#39;s nice to remind your body that it is, in fact, capable of movement.
> Netflix: are you still watching?
> Me: pic.twitter.com/yUbJ6KjVct
>
> -- sara reinis (@SaraReinis) March 7, 2018
## 4\. Consider the two-blanket approach
I have radiators in my apartment and do not control my own heat, which means that sometimes my living room is 1,000 degrees. This is too hot. If I open the window, though (see #7), it becomes too cold. That#39;s why I prefer to have two blankets near me when I binge-watch: one thick blanket for the cold times and one thinner cotton blanket for the medium times. During the hot times, I use no blanket at all.
## 5\. Consider your spinal column
If you need to bring a bed pillow onto the couch for back support, so be it. If you#39;re binge-watching in bed, consider acquiring a backrest pillow. Maybe one ... with a cupholder?
## 6\. If you#39;re watching a show featuring heavy subject matter, take more breaks
While there is certainly no shame in binge-watching, it can have adverse effects on your mental health -- especially if the show you choose deals with emotionally fraught topics. In these cases, treat yourself to a few more breaks than you normally would. We#39;re not saying go outside (imagine!), but maybe do a few more stretches, check in with your friends, and drink some extra water.
## 7\. Open a window
Let your binge-watching farts (different than regular farts) fly freely into the atmosphere.
## 8\. Text people about what you#39;re watching
If you do not have a binge-watching partner literally sitting next to you, it can be fun to live-text the show with a fellow binge-watcher in another location. It also reminds you that you have friends. Crucial!
What you should not do, however, is send texts about the show to someone who has not seen the whole show yet. Avoid committing this friendship crime at all costs.
> When Netflix freezes to ask if you#39;re still watching and you see yourself reflected in the screen pic.twitter.com/tDdSSN6PR5
>
> -- Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) February 16, 2018
## 9\. Switch positions
When you have a nest, you have a nest, so switching rooms isn#39;t necessary. But alternating between sitting up and lying down, or even just lying down on the other end of the couch, can be kinda nice. After all, lying down in a second location is a fun twist on lying down.
## 10\. Respect the air
If you#39;ve chosen some really good snacks (and also haven#39;t left the couch for six hours), the room can start to smell a little ... rank. That#39;s when it#39;s time to light a candle.
On the off-chance Gilmore Girls is your binge-watch, there is a Gilmore Girls candle designed to burn in tandem with the 2016 revival. There are also Stranger Things-themed candles. Or you could just burn a regular one. It#39;s your binge-watch, after all!
## WATCH: Netflix is raising its prices
##http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2418038-10-ways-make-your-binge-watch-comfortable-possible
Sun, 20 2019 15:00:00 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2418038-10-ways-make-your-binge-watch-comfortable-possiblePokémon GO#039;s Feebas Limited Research Day Was Bad, And Needs To Get BetterThe inaugural Pokemon GO Limited Research event which took place yesterday across the globe for three hours, and it’s very clear that this idea needs some fine-tuning.http://gallup.ipub.us/news/2417819-pokemon-go039s-feebas-limited-research-day-was-bad-and-needs
Sun, 20 2019 14:11:00 GMThttp://gallup.ipub.us/news/2417819-pokemon-go039s-feebas-limited-research-day-was-bad-and-needs